Iran war latest: UK agrees to let US use British bases to strike Iranian sites targeting Strait of Hormuz

Iran war: UK opens British bases for US strikes on Hormuz sites

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

Britain granted the United States permission to launch attacks on Iranian targets from UK military bases after Tehran threatened shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, officials confirmed.

The cabinet approved American use of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and other British installations across the Middle East for operations against Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, according to senior defence sources.

The decision follows repeated Iranian attempts to disrupt oil tankers passing through the 21-mile waterway that carries one-fifth of global petroleum supplies. Tehran deployed naval mines and speedboats near shipping lanes during the past week, prompting Washington to seek allied support for military action.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened emergency ministers late Tuesday after receiving intelligence that Iran planned further attacks, officials told reporters. The government issued formal basing rights within 6 hours, they said.

Defence Secretary John Healey briefed lawmakers that British forces would provide logistics support but not participate directly in combat operations. The agreement covers intelligence sharing and aerial refueling for US aircraft, he said.

Iran’s ambassador to London, Hamid Baeidinejad, condemned the move as “hostile action” in a statement Wednesday. Tehran summoned Britain’s charge d’affaires for an official protest, the embassy confirmed.

Washington requested access to British facilities after Iran seized a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Monday, Pentagon officials said. The vessel remains held near Bandar Abbas port with 25 crew members aboard.

RAF Akrotiri houses 2,500 British personnel and hosts American F-35 stealth fighters since 2021. The base sits 800 miles from Iranian coastline, placing most of Iran within combat aircraft range.

The agreement marks a significant shift in UK policy toward direct involvement in Middle East conflicts. Britain previously restricted American operations from its bases to Afghanistan and counter-ISIS missions in Iraq.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy told Parliament the decision protects international shipping. “Freedom of navigation through the strait remains essential for global energy security,” he said.

Oil prices rose 3.2 percent to $78.40 per barrel after news of British involvement emerged. Brent crude futures gained $2.44 in London trading, according to exchange data.

US Central Command already maintains 40,000 troops across the region. The Pentagon moved an aircraft carrier group to the Gulf last week after Iranian forces boarded commercial vessels.

Background

The Strait of Hormuz separates Iran from Oman and represents the world’s most important petroleum chokepoint. Approximately 21 million barrels of oil pass through daily, according to US Energy Information Administration figures.

Britain and Iran face worsening relations after Tehran detained UK-flagged tanker Stena Impero in 2019. Royal Marines previously seized an Iranian vessel near Gibraltar suspected of violating EU sanctions against Syria.

What’s Next

American military planners expect initial strikes within 48 hours, focusing on Iranian naval facilities along the northern Gulf coast. UK officials said Britain would review its involvement based on Iranian retaliation and shipping lane security.

The decision exposes British bases to potential Iranian missile attacks, security analysts warned. Tehran possesses ballistic missiles capable of reaching Cyprus from western Iran launch sites.